Origin Returning to Its Source, Heavenly Venerate Falls
In the darkness of the Chaos Realm, the crackling sounds of colliding Law Fragments abruptly ceased, as if choked by an invisible hand. A deathly silence instantly enveloped the surrounding area for Fang Yuan thousands of miles. The Chaos Qi around them suddenly solidified, transforming into a thick, inky domain of deathly silence, so thick it seemed almost dripping ink. Even light was firmly imprisoned, making movement impossible, as if time itself had frozen in place. Only a few ferocious Law Turbulence continued to twist and howl in the void. Their howls were sharp and piercing, like the wails of vengeful ghosts, yet they seemed to be wary of something, only daring to cower in a corner, not daring to act openly. Like trapped beasts in a cage making their final struggle, each twist and turn created folds in the void that lingered for a long time.
A dim black and white streak of light, carrying an intense, unyielding resentment, shot forth from Law Turbulence, like a venomous snake dormant for millennia. The moment it pierced the air, a sharp, tearing sound ripped through the deathly silence of Primordial Chaos, even ripping a thin gash in the Chaos Qi. The edges of the gash were jagged with light and shadow, exuding an eerie, all-consuming power that refused to heal for a long time. Within that streak of light, the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable's withered, claw-like hand gripped the shimmering Tai Chi Symbol tightly. His knuckles, strained to a bluish-black, turned bluish-black, veins bulging and coiling like earthworms. The green, black, and white spiritual light collapsed frantically, transforming into a thin, hair-like arrow. At the tip of the arrow, a tiny Space Rift faintly condensed. The Space Rift, Rift edges gleaming with a Annihilation, extinguishing light, exuded a deathly stillness that devoured everything. It forcefully tore through the thick barrier of the surrounding Chaos Qi, carrying a Jade and Stone Shattered ferocity, aimed straight at Ren Xiaoyao's vital back. His deathly pale face was already distorted and deformed, his eye sockets sunken, the whites of his eyes covered with spiderweb-like blood vessels that spread to the depths of his eyes, staining his pupils a strange crimson, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey. All the Origin Power his primordial energy was poured into this attack, even the festering wounds all over his body spurted out dark green blood droplets. The blood droplets fell into the Chaos Qi, making a sizzling, corrosive sound, emitting wisps of black smoke, and were instantly devoured, leaving not even a trace of blood.
"Ren Xiaoyao! Prepare to die!"
The roar pierced through the barrier of Primordial Chaos, carrying a desperate madness that caused the surrounding Law Fragments to tremble. As the fragments collided, tiny Mars Mars up, falling into the Chaos Qi and being instantly annihilated, yet Ren Xiaoyao's clothes remained completely unmoved.
Ren Xiaoyao, however, seemed to have sensed it beforehand. He didn't stop, nor even turn his head. Suddenly Profound Yellow Mother Pearl between his brows erupted with a boundless Xuanhuang light. The light was warm and jade-like, yet indestructible, like Primordial Divine Mountain rising from the ground, its peak shrouded in clouds and the cries of Immortal Crane, exuding an ancient and undying majesty, crashing down before the Tai Chi Symbol. A deafening "Boom!" shook the Primordial Chaos, even causing the Law Turbulence tens of thousands of miles away to tremble, stirring up layers upon layers of air waves. On the Tai Chi Symbol The light within dimmed considerably in an instant, and countless cracks spread out like a spiderweb, making a cracking sound, as if it would shatter completely at any moment. The Great Heavenly Venerate was struck as if by a thunderbolt from the heavens, his bones creaking under the strain, every inch of them groaning. He was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, leaving a trail of blood in the Chaos Qi. The dark green blood droplets scattered along the way were devoured by the violent Chaos Power before they even hit the ground, leaving not a trace.
"You think you, with your crippled body and remaining limbs, dare to be so insolent in front of me?"
Ren Xiaoyao slowly turned around, his white robes fluttering in the wind, whipping up Heavenly Gang fierce gust of wind that howled, carrying a chilling Gale Wind aura. The surrounding Chaos Qi receded layer by layer, revealing a vast emptiness. Within this emptiness, only the echoes of colliding Law Fragments reverberated, like the whispers of ghosts. Black and White Qi slowly rotated in his eyes, like the rising and falling of the sun and moon, containing the vicissitudes of eternity. His gaze was indifferent as ice, and when it fell upon the Great Heavenly Venerate Heavenly Dao, it instilled in the latter a sense of insignificance and despair, as if he were nothing more than a... A mere speck of dust, not even worthy of his attention. The Primordial Chaos Life and Death Axe in his palm trembled slightly, emitting an excited hum. The three runes on the axe—Life and Death, Yin and Yang, and Creation—simultaneously lit up, their brilliant light piercing through the Primordial Chaos darkness like three pillars of light reaching the sky. An overwhelming pressure, dominating the ages, swept out, causing the surrounding turbulent Law Turbulence to halt. Like subjects before a king, they prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to approach even a fraction, their roars dissipating into ripples in the void.
The Great Heavenly Venerate staggered to regain his footing, a hoarse sound emanating from his throat, like the panting of a dying beast. Black Blood Black Blood continuously spilled from the corner of his mouth, falling onto his tattered Daoist robe and instantly corroding tiny holes that continued to widen, staining a large patch of his chest red. He looked down at the Tai Chi Symbol, riddled with cracks and dimming its light, a flash of utter despair crossing his eyes. Within that despair, a flicker of madness ignited, only to be replaced by a deeper resentment, a resentment that gnawed at his remaining soul like a leech, causing him unbearable pain and making his entire body tremble violently. "Ren Xiaoyao! Even if my soul is scattered, I will drag you down with me!" he roared, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, the sound so intense it hurt his own eardrums. He then suddenly crushed his own Primordial Spirit.
In an instant, a world-destroying aura erupted from his body. Within that aura, the shrill cries of a shattered Primordial Spirit pierced the Primordial Chaos, sending chills down one's spine. The yin and yang life force around him intertwined wildly with the remaining Origin Power, transforming into a jet-black pillar of light. Within this pillar, countless twisted fragments of divine souls wailed, each fragment inscribed with a venomous Curse, Curse Ren Xiaoyao to a terrible death. With a suicidal momentum, these fragments crashed into Ren Xiaoyao once more. This was a desperate gamble, using the Primordial Spirit as a catalyst, igniting his entire life's cultivation. Even Great Luo Perfection expert would suffer severe injuries, their soul shattered, and eternal damnation if they were not careful.
However, Ren Xiaoyao's face remained completely calm, and even the indifference in his eyes did not falter.
"Like an ant trying to shake a tree, it's overestimating its own strength."
He raised his hand, Primordial Chaos Life and Death Axe Power of Life and Death appeared instantly. The axe blade gleamed with a chilling light, reflecting the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable's crazed and twisted face, revealing the desperate madness in his eyes. With a gentle spin, three runes burst forth with light, the power of life and death weaving into a ring of reincarnation. Within the ring, light and shadow shifted, life and death cycled, new life was born, Annihilation of All Things, flowers bloomed for a fleeting moment, and mountains of bones accumulated, revealing a profound mystery of the Annihilation of all things; the Yin-Yang Power transformed into a clear black and white boundary. Severing the Primordial Chaos, the black was like an abyss, unfathomable, while the white was like frost, biting and chilling, carrying a domineering force that separated yin and yang; the Power of Creation gave rise to specks of spiritual light, flickering and containing vitality, with grass and trees growing, birds and beasts soaring, seas turning into fields, and Star River changing, concealing a mysterious power that nurtured heaven and earth. The three forces merged Unity, transforming into an axe-like beam that traversed the Primordial Chaos. That axe-like beam seemed light and airy, yet it contained the power to World Creation, slowly meeting the pitch-black pillar of light.
There was no earth-shattering noise, only a faint "rip" sound, like thin paper being torn, crisp and piercing, which stood out clearly in the deathly Primordial Chaos.
The jet-black pillar of light, imbued with the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable's life's cultivation, was easily torn apart by the axe's edge as if it were made of paper, offering no chance of resistance whatsoever. The fragments of the divine soul within the pillar instantly turned to ashes under the axe's edge, leaving not a trace. The axe's edge, undiminished in its momentum, carried an overwhelming aura as it struck directly at the Great Heavenly Venerate's divine soul. The Great Heavenly Venerate's pupils dilated abruptly, the madness in his eyes freezing instantly, then turning into a deathly silence. Within that silence, a trace of disbelief and astonishment lingered. He didn't even have time to utter a wail before his body was annihilated inch by inch under the axe's edge, leaving not even a single fragment of his divine soul. Only the shattered Tai Chi Symbol flickered briefly in the void before being completely swallowed by the surging Chaos Qi, leaving not a trace, as if it had never existed at all.
The Yin Yang Creation Great Heavenly Venerate has fallen!
Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand, Primordial Chaos Life and Death Axe transformed into a stream of light, returning to its place and hovering quietly in his palm. The light on the axe body slowly subsided, leaving only a faint halo flowing around it, exuding a restrained majesty. He gazed at the place where the Great Heavenly Venerate had been annihilated, a trace of indifference flashing in his eyes. Then he turned around and looked again at the entrance to the Origin Secret Realm that emitted a warm white light, as if what he had just annihilated was nothing more than an eyesore of an ant, not even disturbing his mind in the slightest.
At that very moment, where the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable's divine soul had been annihilated, a faint, milky-white spiritual light flickered, like a firefly in the wind. The light was weak, yet incredibly pure, standing out starkly in the Primordial Chaos darkness, illuminating Fang Yuan feet of void like a star in the night. This spiritual light was unlike the mixed chaos of Chaos Qi, nor the violent Power of Principle; it was almost transparently pure, carrying an aura of encompassing all things and Unity the Dao Transmutation. The moment it appeared, it resonated with Ren Xiaoyao. A powerful resonance arose within the Small World in the sea. Within the sea of consciousness, the evolving Small World trembled violently, causing mountains and rivers to roar, rivers to overflow, mountains to collapse, boulders to tumble down, and the sun, moon, and stars to shake and fall. Stars deviated from their orbits and collided in all directions within the sea of consciousness, bursting forth with dazzling light. The earth cracked, and golden magma gushed from the fissures. Where the magma flowed, vegetation withered instantly and then regenerated just as quickly, as if cheering or worshipping this ray of spiritual light from the source.
Ren Xiaoyao abruptly stopped, his Daoist aura instantly receding, completely dissipating, as if he were merely an ordinary cultivator, not the once-powerful Great Luo Perfection expert. He focused his mind and sensed that wisp of spiritual light flowing slowly towards the Origin Secret Realm, like a drop of water merging into the ocean. Along its path, the chaotic and violent Chaos Qi around it shed its ferocity, becoming gentle and docile, like a wild horse being tamed, transforming into milky-white streams, showing signs of Unity. Even the ferocious Law Turbulence quieted down, no longer roaring, but instead, like streams, converging with the wisp of spiritual light towards the Secret Realm Entrance, forming a milky-white stream that meandered through the Primordial Chaos darkness, like a path to rebirth.
A strange light flashed in his eyes, and he quickened his pace, heading towards the entrance of the Origin Secret Realm. The closer he got, the more intense the all-encompassing aura became, like a spring breeze, refreshing and invigorating. Even the Dao power within his body began to flow joyfully, flowing more smoothly, as if a parched riverbed had received sweet rain. Every meridian was expanding, emitting a comfortable hum. The Small World in his sea of consciousness trembled more violently. On the newly formed Primordial Chaos barrier, ancient patterns began to emerge. The patterns twisted and changed, obscure and difficult to understand, yet they faintly matched the creation characters he had seen in the Chaos Realm. Each Dao Patterns seemed to contain the secrets of World Creation, radiating a World Creation charm of creation. The barrier even faintly possessed a trace of immortal luster, a warm yet indestructible luster, like the first ray of light at the Beginning of Heaven and Earth.
Reaching the Secret Realm Entrance, Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the warm white light.
In an instant, a vast and boundless torrent of information surged into his sea of consciousness. It was the Dao principles at the Beginning of Heaven and Earth and earth, the mysteries of the birth of all things, and the true meaning of the Cosmic Reincarnation. Within this torrent of information, there were the whispers of the creator god, the wails of all living things, the tragic grandeur of the universe's Annihilation, and the joy of the birth of heaven and earth. Countless images flashed through his mind, as fast as lightning. In the white light, the phantoms of dragons and phoenixes soaring, giant Kun swimming, mountains collapsing, and Star River revolving became increasingly clear. The dragons and phoenixes cried out, their clear and resonant voices echoing throughout the universe. The giant Kun swung its tail, stirring up towering waves. Mountains collapsed and transformed into Plains, Plains vegetation grew luxuriantly. The Star River, in its rotation, nurtured life, and life multiplied and thrived on the earth, as if a grand transformation was unfolding before his eyes. A magnificent spectacle of creation from time immemorial. Deep within these illusory images lies a boundless, milky-white ocean. Vast and limitless, its waters warm and radiant with a soft glow, countless Origin Power, similar to the wisp of spiritual light from before, flow gently, intertwining like thousands of silver fish swimming freely, ultimately converging into a colossal whirlpool at its center. This whirlpool rotates slowly and solemnly, emanating an aura that devours and Nurturing All Things, as if it were the source of this Chaos Realm, the ultimate destination of all things. All living beings, all Principle, all power will ultimately return to this ocean, to this whirlpool, and be reborn in the cycle of reincarnation.
From the depths of the vortex, an ancient whisper faintly echoed, as if it were the Beginning of Heaven and Earth, ethereal and sacred, lingering in Ren Xiaoyao's ears, resounding like a great bell, shaking his mind and causing the Small World in his sea of consciousness to resonate with it.
"All things return to their origin, all things Unity; the Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all things..."
Ren Xiaoyao's mind was shaken, as if struck by a thunderbolt. Suddenly, everything became clear. All the bottlenecks and confusions in his past cultivation vanished at this moment. His mind was clear, as clear as a mirror, reflecting the origin of All Things in Heaven and Earth. He finally understood that the Great Luo Perfection was not the end, but only a starting point, a starting point to the Heavenly Dao.
This is the true path to achieving the Heavenly Dao!
It's not as simple as finding the Chaos Origin to refine Dao Foundation. Rather, it requires using oneself as a medium to draw upon the Origin Power transforms all things, connecting the inner Small World with this ocean of primordial energy. This allows one to truly achieve "the Dao gives birth to all things, and all things return to the Dao." At that time, the inner Small World can transform into an independent universe, and he will become the Heavenly Dao of this universe, wielding power over birth and death, controlling reincarnation, his Words Follow Law law, his thoughts spanning eternity, his thought giving birth to all things, and his thought ending in death, bringing annihilation to all things!
He looked up at the vast, boundless, milky-white primordial ocean, a resolute glint in his eyes, a glint that also held a yearning for a higher realm, a longing to wield the power of the Heavenly Dao. His white robes fluttered in the Primordial Chaos winds, the hem billowing, the primordial yellow light around him mingling with the white light of the Secret Realm, creating a faint halo around him. On the halo, runes flickered, and Daoist principles flowed, as if the Heavenly Dao had descended to earth, overlooking this Primordial Chaos, overlooking this primordial ocean.
The grudges outside the Chaos Realm have been settled, and the turmoil in the Profound Yellow Realm is nothing but fleeting smoke. His path to the Heavenly Dao has only just begun.
Without further hesitation, Ren Xiaoyao lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure, like a streak of light, disappeared into the warm white light. As the white light touched his body, it seemed to possess a spirit, transforming into layers of light patterns, like High Antiquity seals, quietly entering his limbs and bones. Each light pattern traveled within his body, and wherever it passed, all the pores opened up, and even the depths of his bones exuded a warm and gentle feeling, making the Dao aura around him softer and no longer as sharp and fierce as before.
The moment he stepped into the Ocean of Origin, a vast and boundless power of Unity rushed towards him. The power was gentle yet irresistible, like a mother's embrace, completely cleansing the Chaos Qi around him. Even the sharp edge of the Primordial Chaos Life and Death Axe softened, becoming gentler. The three runes on the axe resonated faintly with the surrounding Origin Power, shimmering with a faint milky-white halo. As the runes flowed, countless ancient Dao principles seemed to whisper. The milky-white Origin Power beneath his feet was like tangible silk, rippling in layers. Each ripple carried an ancient Dao rhythm, brushing over his limbs and bones. Wherever it passed, the Dao power in his meridians began to circulate spontaneously, resonating with the Origin Power and emitting a subtle hum. It was as if countless stars were awakening within him, radiating brilliant light. Even his soul became increasingly clear, like Glazed Ice.
He sat cross-legged, his white robes spread out on the primordial ocean like a blooming white lotus, untouched by dust. The lotus-petal-like hem of his robes rippled gently with the Origin Power, merging with the ocean. The Profound Yellow Mother Pearl between his brows shone brightly, and a Xuanhuang pillar of light shot into the sky. Within the pillar, the shadows of dragons and phoenixes swirled and danced, their dragon roars clear and their phoenix cries melodious, before plunging directly into the enormous whirlpool in the center of the ocean. In an instant, the whirlpool's rotation accelerated dramatically, and a thunderous roar resounded throughout the secret Secret Realm, like thunder at the Beginning of Heaven and Earth, causing the entire primordial ocean to tremble violently. Countless streams of milky-white Origin Power roared out like swimming dragons, their bodies winding and carrying a majestic aura. They flowed continuously into his sea of consciousness along the Mystic Yellow Light Pillar. The power was extremely pure, without a trace of impurity. Wherever it passed, the Chaos Qi in his sea of consciousness retreated, transforming into the purest energy, nourishing the Small World that was evolving.
Within the sea of consciousness, the tremors of that Small World intensified, as if it were about to collapse at any moment, yet it was also Vibrant Vitality by the nourishment of the Origin Power. The cracked earth rapidly healed under the nourishment of the Origin Power, and the golden magma gushing from the cracks transformed into gurgling springs. Where the springs flowed, patches of lush green grass grew, dotted with colorful wildflowers, their petals glistening with dewdrops and exuding a refreshing fragrance; the star that had broken free of its orbit... Drawn by an Invisible Power, the stars rearranged, transforming into a dazzling starry sky. The sun and moon hung high, their soft light warming all living things on earth, and even the air was filled with a faint Spiritual Qi. The chaos of overflowing rivers subsided, and the water meandered along the terrain, converging into a boundless sea. Waves surged on the surface, and fish and dragons could be vaguely seen leaping, their scales shimmering with seven colors in the sunlight, emitting clear and melodious dragon roars that reverberated through the clouds.
On that Primordial Chaos barrier, the ancient Creation Patterns became increasingly clear. Each Dao Patterns, infused with Origin Power, shimmered with dazzling light. Within the patterns, countless ancient Daoist chants seemed to echo, recounting the mysteries of the Beginning of Heaven and Earth. The barrier began to slowly expand, rapidly growing from its original thousand-mile Fang Yuan to ten thousand miles, then a hundred thousand miles. The immortal radiance on the barrier grew increasingly intense, even showing faint signs of the emergence of Principle. Tiny chains of Principle spread out like a spider web, enveloping the entire Small World. Runes flickered on the chains, emanating an indestructible aura. No matter how the outside world trembled, this Small World remained as stable as a rock.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind sank into his sea of consciousness. He could clearly feel that every inch of land and every drop of seawater in the Small World was connected to the primordial ocean, like the umbilical cord between an infant and its mother, continuously drawing power from it. Using his own Dao Foundation as a bridge and the three Laws as a Guide, he continuously introduced the Origin Power of the transformation of all things into the Small World. His will was the will of this Small World, and his thoughts were the Principle of this Small World. In a single thought, he could determine life and death and control reincarnation.
"The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things..."
Ancient Daoist sounds echoed in his mind, like the resounding tolling of a great bell, shaking his very soul. All the insights he had gained from his past cultivation now merged into a unified whole, and those former bottlenecks and confusions melted away like ice and snow. His will permeated every corner of the Small World. He saw green grass and trees sprouting on the Plains, and among them, ants breaking through the soil, waving their tender antennae, feeling the joy of new life; in the sea, fish and shrimp were born, swaying their tails as they darted freely through the water, spitting out strings of crystal bubbles; in the starry sky, Spiritual Qi gathered, transforming into streams of light that fell to the earth, becoming mountain and river veins. Above these Spirit Vein, Spirit Vein and mist swirled, Immortal Crane circled, emitting clear and melodious cries, and deep within the Spirit Vein, Strange Beasts lurked, inhaling and exhaling the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Life bursts forth in his Small World, flourishing and thriving, a vibrant scene everywhere.
At that very moment, deep within the primordial ocean, an even purer Origin Power, like a milky-white dragon, roared out of the vortex. The dragon was tens of thousands of feet long, its scales and claws clearly defined, each scale shimmering with a warm light. Its eyes flashed with Primordial Chaos light, carrying an aura of power capable of devouring heaven and earth as it roared into the Mystic Yellow Light Pillar. This power was far more vast and pure than any of the previous ones; it was the core power of all things returning to their origin!
The instant this power surged into the sea of consciousness, the Primordial Chaos barrier of the Small World trembled violently. The Creation Patterns on the barrier instantly lit up, their dazzling light illuminating the entire sea of consciousness, even making its edges clearer. A chain of Principle piercing through heaven and earth extended from the depths of the barrier. Countless ancient runes were engraved on the chain, emanating a supreme majesty as they flowed. It tightly connected with the vortex of the primordial ocean, and in an instant, the power of the primordial ocean, like a flood bursting its banks, surged wildly into the Small World Small World, expanding its size by more than a hundred times.
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently. He could clearly feel that his will and the will of the Small World had completely merged together, becoming inseparable. He was this world, and this world was him. Every blade of grass, every grain of sand, and every stone in this world was under his control.
With a thought, a fierce wind arose in his Small World, dark clouds gathered, and a torrential downpour began. Large raindrops pounded the earth, splashing up sprays of water. The grass and trees on the ground swayed in the wind and rain, yet grew even more resilient. With another thought, the dark clouds dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky. A rainbow stretched across the sky, its seven colors illuminating the earth like a dream. As the sunlight shone down, all living things on the earth looked up, feeling the warm glow, their faces showing joy. With yet another thought, the earth withered, turning into a wasteland, with yellow sand filling the sky, a desolate scene. Then, it became lush and vibrant again, withered trees blossoming with large, beautiful flowers that emitted a rich fragrance.
Words Follow Law!
This is the power of the Heavenly Dao!
He slowly opened his eyes, his pupils reflecting the interplay of Black and White Qi, yet also revealing a milky-white Origin Light. His gaze was profound, like the ancient starry sky, containing endless mysteries. Wherever his gaze fell, the vortex of the primordial ocean slowly subsided, and the illusory creation within the Secret Realm gradually dissipated. Only the Daoist aura that encompassed all things permeated the heavens and earth, enduring endlessly.
He stood up, his white robes fluttering in the wind, and his aura had undergone a complete transformation. It was no longer the Great Luo Perfection cultivator who looked down upon all ages, but a gentle, inclusive, yet supreme Heavenly Dao Pressure. That pressure was like a spring breeze, yet it carried an undeniable majesty that made All Things in Heaven and Earth submit to it, and even the Chaos Qi dared not approach within three feet of him.
He raised his hand, Primordial Chaos Life and Death Axe flew into his palm. The three runes on the axe body were actually in harmony with the Principle of his Small World. The axe light flashed, but it no longer had the ferocity of Annihilation all things. Instead, it had a trace of creation and vitality. The axe body trembled slightly and emitted a clear and melodious hum, as if it was cheering or worshipping, rejoicing for its master's achievement of the Heavenly Dao.
Ren Xiaoyao looked up at the Primordial Chaos darkness beyond the Secret Realm, a knowing glint in his eyes. He could clearly sense that beyond this Chaos Realm lay an even more vast world, more powerful beings, and a more profound Dao. That was his true stage, a place where endless mysteries awaited his exploration.
He strode out of the Secret Realm, surrounded by a radiant yellow glow Origin Power flowed beneath his feet, and wherever he passed, the Chaos Qi retreated, transforming into a great road leading to the heavens. On both sides of the road, countless figures of Dao were faintly worshipping and respectfully bidding farewell to this newly ascended Heavenly Dao.
His path to the Heavenly Dao has only just begun.
The turmoil in the Profound Yellow Realm was merely an insignificant ripple on his path to enlightenment.